Suddenly she made a swift gesture, bending down to him. She caught
his hand in her own, and pressed her lips to it. "Don't you SEE?"
she said. "Attracted by someone . . . by whom? . . . by that
wretched little boy? . . . why he amuses me, of course, . . . and
you would stand aside for that! You have spoken and I must speak.
Why you are everything, everything, all the world to me. It was
last Sunday in church . . . do you remember . . . when they said,
'Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth' . . .
I looked up and caught your eye, and wondered if you DID
understand. But it is enough--I won't hamper you either. If you
want to go back to the old life and live it, I won't say a word. I
will be just your most faithful friend--you will allow that?"
The heaven seemed to open over Howard, and the solid earth reeled
round him where he sate. It was so, then! He sate for a moment like
a man stunned, and then opened his eyes on bliss unutterable. She
was close to him, her breath on his cheek, her eyes full of tears.
He took her into his arms, and put his lips to hers. "My dearest
darling child," he said, "are you sure? . . . I can't believe
it. . . . Oh my sweetest, it can't be true. Why, I have loved you
with all my soul since that first moment I saw you--indeed it was
before; and I have thought of nothing else day and night. . . .
What does it all mean . . . the well of life?"
They sate holding each other close.
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